Dana Milbank: Nancy Pelosi is the best person to lead the House Democrats. That's why she should retire.

Nancy Pelosi had an exceptional 2018 midterm election cycle. Her prodigious fundraising and the message discipline she helped impose propelled House Democrats to their biggest gains since 1974. She has proved herself to be a skilled legislative whip, and she is — by far — the best person to lead House Democrats in 2019.

This is why she should announce her retirement.

Paradoxical? Not at all.

The 16 House Democrats who signed a letterMonday declaring they would vote against Pelosi (Calif.) for speaker, combined with a dozen others who have vaguely stated their opposition, represent a potent threat to her leadership. The rebels also threaten to divide Democrats at precisely the time they need to be a disciplined counter to President Trump.

But the dissidents are justified in their desire for new leadership. Pelosi has led House Democratsfor 16 years (compared with 10 for the legendary Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill Jr. ) and has already served as speaker. She and the No. 2 and No. 3 House Democrats, Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) and James E. Clyburn (S.C.), are all pushing 80 at a time when the party is becoming younger. Pelosi herself recently said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that she wishes to be a “transitional........